The role of land use, construction and road on terrestrial carbon stocks in a newly urbanized area of western Chengdu, China

Complex and dynamic land-use patterns have been observed globally due to rapid urbanization and persistent human disturbance. Analyzing the effect of urbanization on carbon (C) stocks is a key step toward enhancing C sequestration and mitigating emissions of carbon dioxide. In a newly urbanized area of western Chengdu, China, we analyzed soil organic C (SOC), soil inorganic C (SIC) stocks down to 1 m, and aboveground vegetation C, and we discussed the effects of land use, density of construction and roads, and distance from the urban center on SOC and SIC density. The SOC, SIC stocks down to 1 m, and aboveground vegetation C stocks were 1.08 × 109 kg, 4.67 × 107 kg, and 1.58 × 107 kg, respectively. Our analyses of SOC and SIC density provided three results: (1) it was significantly higher in rural than in urban land-use types; (2) it tended to decrease as the density of construction and roads increased; and (3) it increased with distance far from the urban center. The results indicated that urbanization led to SOC and SIC loss in our study area. SOC and SIC loss will be alleviated by decreasing the construction and road density and increasing green space area.